In the second attempt
ZDF secures important football rights
Updated on September 12, 2025 – 5:52 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Important media rights of the traditional competition initially remain unsuccessful. The DFB only finds two TV channels in the second attempt.
In the second attempt, the German Football Association (DFB) sold free TV rights for a total of 30 live games of the cup competition. In the four seasons from 2026/27 to 2029/30, the public service broadcaster ZDF and the freely received private broadcaster RTL will continue to be broadcast live as the new TV partner of the association-including one final-each. Previously, the ARD had already secured an equally large package. The Pay TV rights for all 63 games per season had secured Sky again.
“With the existing partners ARD, ZDF and Sky as well as our new live and highlight partner RTL, the DFB Cup gets an even more comprehensive media presence,” said Holger Blask, Managing Director of DFB GmbH & Co. KG: “The decision not yet to be assigned in May has proven to be correct.”
At the auction, no broadcaster had initially been found for the second free TV right-wing package. Although the broadcasts of the traditional competition are quotas, the association remained sitting on a large part of its litiveers for free TV.
There was no transmitter next to the ARD who wanted to pay enough. “Due to not an economically adequate offer,” the DFB decided against the offers received in early May and then led individual negotiations with interested channels.
The RTL group further expands its range of sports. In December she acquired the top games of the 2nd Bundesliga on Saturday evening from the German Football League. RTL football also includes live games from the German national soccer team as well as the Europa League and the Conference League.
The ZDF had already acquired a cup package for the still running right cycle. The four -year contract ends after the 2025/26 season, in which the second alternately transfers the live games with the first.